Skelton Steps to the Plate Versus Moli on Friday
by
Robin York
2/25 - Undefeated British and Commonwealth Heavyweight Champion and Bedford power-house Matt Skelton goes for his first "world title" this Friday night at the Wembley Conference Centre when he takes on Argentina's Fabio Moli for the vacant WBU Heavyweight crown.
Many people believe Matt should of defended his British and Commonwealth titles, but with fights against Audley Harrison and Herbie Hide unlikely to ever happen and a match with Danny Williams not likely to take place to later on this year, surely its best for the champion to keep active and fight international competition in the mean time?
His opponent Moli has come in for a lot of flak lately, mainly due to him being destroyed by Wladimir Klitschko inside a round back in 2003. But Moli does have a 32-3 record compared to Skelton's 15-0, so the Argentine does have plenty of experience. It has to be said that most of his wins have been over fighters from the Heavyweight second division and has fought only once outside of Argentina and that was in Germany. Despite losing in a round to Klitschko, Moli should be tough, he has gone the 12 round distance 4 times so you can add stamina to that as well.
Skelton incidentally has yet to complete the 12 round distance. Veteran spoiler Julius Francis took Skelton the distance in a 10 round fight and Michael Sprott managed to last into the 12th before he was overwhelmed by a big attack by the Bedford man, the fight where Skelton won the British and Commonwealth titles.
So despite Skelton, who is allegedly 38, only having 15 fights, he has picked up good experience along the way, especially in his 4 round thriller with Bob Mirovic for the Commonwealth title at the York Hall in Bethnal Green last year.
The champion who dropped the Aussie with a cracking uppercut in the first round was then drawn into a wild, tiring battle in which he had to fight with one eye. Skelton was tagged a few times but eventually he overpowered Mirovic, flooring him again in the 4th, which led to the Aussie not wanting to answer the bell to the 5th round much to his corners disapproval. Moli will put up more of a fight than Mirovic. He is from the same camp as Javier Alvarez who destroyed Britain's Michael Gomez in 6 rounds and is talking a good fight.
"I'm not here to make Skelton look good. I'm going to knock him out and take the title back to Argentina," Moli said.
"Skelton is in for the toughest night of his life. I've seen all his fights on video and he just doesn't do it for me."He is big and basic and that's about it - he'll wish he never agreed to fight me once I've finished with him"
Moli may have a point that Skelton is 'big and basic' but so far that has been enough to for him to stay unbeaten and stop all but one of his opponents.
Skelton will have to raise him game though against Moli and will be looking to improve on his last performance against the awkward Keith Long, who would make most heavyweights look bad. Skelton did find the punch to stop Long though. Moli should be a lot easier to hit and while Moli I believe will land some bombs on Skelton, the Bedford man after a messy start will start to land cleanly with the right hands and stop Moli in 5 spirited rounds.
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